Flying-machine.



V. WOJCIBCHOWSKL FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 001231, 1911.

Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

l4: SHEETSSHEET 1.

V. WUJCIECHOWSKI FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8l, 1911. 1,040,600, Patented 00in. 8, 1912.

4 SHEBTSHEET 2.

@vi/Mmmm V. WOJCIBGHOVVSKI. FLYING MAGHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED OUT. 31, 1911. 1,040,630@ Patented Oct. 8, 1912 4 SHEETR-SHEBT 3.

V. WOJUIECEOWSKI.

FLYING MACHINE.

nrLIoATIoH Hmm 00131, 1011.

1,040,600. Patented 0111.111912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

principal aim is TtiElT'lIlVE WOJCIECHOTSKI, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLYING-MACHINE.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

raient-10615.8,191.2.

Application filed October 31, 1911.` Serial No. 657,880.

To all `'ic/1.0m it 'may concern 4Be it known that I, VALENTINE lVoJoiua- :,irowsiii, citiz/.en of Russia, residing at Brockton, 'in the conn'tycf Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented cen tain neiv and usetul Improvements in Flying-Machines, ot which the following is a specication.

This invention has relation to flying machines ot the. aeroplane type, and has for its object to provide a structure which may be easily and quickly transformed trom a flying machine proper-into a parachute and vice versa. l

ln case ot accident or refusal of the engine to operate upon aeroplane machines as constructed at present there is no provision madefor converting the machine into a parachute in order that it may gravitate slowly towardthe earth and thei'eby prevent: accident or damage.

Therefore in the present invention the to provide means adapted to cooperate with the planes ot the machinev for converting the structure into a parachute so that it may descend gradually.

With this and other objects in view the machine includes 'a `frame having propellers and an operating engine, as will be explained. The stern propeller' is so mounted that it may be swungr about an axis while it' is rotating and by this arrangement the machine may hc steered horizontally or approximately so. APlanes are carried at the upper portion of the frame, one at the front and the other at the rear. The forward :frame is composed of sections the rear edge popt-ions of which may be swung vertically so that the forward planes 'may be moved from a position inwhich its t'oi'wartt edge is upwardly disposed into a position in which its forward edge portion is downwardly dipped. Frames are 'hingedlv mounted at the .'des ot' the first mentioned trame between the said planes and the last mentioned frames carry curtains which are normally rolled up but may be unrolled so as to bridge the space between the rear edge of the forward plane and the forward edge of the rear plane, thus trai'ist'orming the machine into a parachute. There. is space left between the inner edges ot' the curtains and the adjacent edges of the said planes and over this space a supplemental structure is mounted, means being provided for extending and collapsing the, last mentioned parachute.

A still further object of the invcntion isl generally'tti improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and cilciency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in thc following description, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details ot construction may bc resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

For a full inidcrslanding ot' the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

lfigure 1 is a side elevation of the flying machine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with parts removed and parts in sec* tion; Fig. is a top plan view of the same with parts removed and parts in section;

Fig. 1tis a detailed sectional view of part ot' a plane adjusting mechanism mounted upon the machine; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view otl the rear portion of` the top member of the traine of the machine; Fig. G is a top plan view of a parachute mechanism used on the machine showing the parts extended; Fig. T is a top plan view of the parachute mechanism showing the parts collapsed; Fig. S is a detail sectional view enlarged ot" a rib used upon the machine; Fig. il is an edge clevatioi'i ot' one ot thc ribs o't' the wings of thc machine; and

.Fig 'l0 is a sido elevation ot the parachute mechanism shown in Fig. (i.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the acctnnpanying drawings by the same reference characters.

The trame olf' the machine.consists of a top member l which is rounded at its rear end and which is approximately U-shaped in plan. rlhc t'orward end portions of th'e l member 1 are connected together by downwai'dly curved cross beams L). which serve as a support 'for an engine or motor End pieces -tdepend l'romthe top member l and are approxinmtely Ushaped in side elevation. The lower portions of the end pieces 4- curve toward each other and are connected together by a [loor 5. Standards ti are attachcd to the floor 5 and carry iournaled Wheels 7. The upper portions of the form ward Vand rear end pieces 4 are connected together by side'bars 8. These bars extend longitudinally of the frame in parallel rela-- tion `to the side portions of the top member 1.l The lower portions of the end pieces 4 are connected together by side bars 9 upon which seats, indicated at 10, may be mounted for'the accommodation of an operator or passengers. The parts of this frame are made of wood or other light and durable material and the lparts are so arranged as to cleave the air and present minimum resistaiice against the same when the machine alinemeiit. A clutch member 16 is fixed toy the stub shaft 14 and av clutch member 17 is slidably'mounted upon the shaft. 12but l is constrained to rotate with the same. Any

suitable lever mechanism, as for instance that indicated at 1S, may be provided for shift- `'ing the clutch member17, so that the shafts 12 and 14 may be connected with each other to rotate in unison, or `the shaft 12 ina/Lt.

remain atlrest while the shaft 14 rotates.

Pulleys 19 and 2D are fixed to the stub shaft 14.` A pulley 21 is journaled for rotation at'tlie forward portion of the top member 1, and a cable or belt 22 is trained around the pulleys l19 and 20. The pulley 21 is provided upon itshunder side with -a set of beveled gear teeth 23 which mesh with 'a beveled pinion 24 fixed to the rear end of the shaftof the engine 3. A propeller 25 is fixed to the forward end of the shaft of the *engine 3 and is located in advance of the forward end of the top member 1.

A shaft 26 is located at. the rear end portion of the top member. 1 in a position concentric with the arc of the rear end of the said top member 1. A pulley27 is mounted for rotation upon the shaft 26 and a cable` or belt 28 is trained around the pulleys 20 andl 27. A yoke 29 is pivotally mounted upon the shaft 26 at a point above t-he pul ley 27 and one end portion of a shaft 30 is journaled in the yoke 29 and the said shaft 30 carries at its vforward end abeveled pinion 31 which meshes with a set of beveled gear teeth 32 mounted upon the upper side of the pulley 27. The rear arcuate end of the top member 1 of the frame is .provided with a slot 33,' and a block 34 is slidably mounted in the said slot. The block 34 4is provided atits forward end with a ange block 34 and behind the rear end of the top. The shaft 30 is' member l of the frame. l free to rotate in lits bearing in the yoke 29 and in the block 34 but the saidshaftis re strained vagainst longitudinal` movement. The blocl `34 may slide along theslot 8.3

vand the yoke 29 is lfree to swing upon the shaft 26 as a pivot.

Any suitable means may be provided for moving the block 34 along the slot 33 and for holding `said block in an adjusted position inthe said slot. The means employed in the prese-nt instance consists of cables 39 which are connected at their rear ends` with the opposite sides of the block 34 and which are trained around the opposite side portions of the top member 1 of the frame land are led to a drum 40 upon which they arev The said wound in opposite directions. drinn is provided with"l any suitable attachment whereby it may'l-beJ rotated yso that as one oft-he cables 39,is Wound thereon the .other is uiiwound therefrom and vice versa.

Thus-'by rotating the said. clriiirrtlie.block 34 will be carried along theslot 33 and therefore the shaft 30 may be moved from A propeller 3S is fixed to the rear i a position in alinemeiit with the median longitudinal dimension of the top member Vl to an angle of any desired degree at either f side of the said median line. The movement of the shaft- 30 may be accomplished while the said shaft is 4:rotating and, thus the ypropeller 38 is carried-'to one side or the lother of the m'edianline of the :frame.\and

by this means the machine is steered liorizout-ally while in flight.

By shifting the-clutch member 17 into engagement with the clutch member 16 the shaft 12 'is caused to rotate, and as the, propeller 13 rotates; with the shaft 12 the said propeller. will lift therv machine vwhile in Hight. y .l A plane 411 is located at the rear end-portion of the top member 1 o f the frame and projects beyond the` opposite sides thereof. This plane 41 is held in xedposition and is curved in adownward direction from its forward to its rear edge. hingedly mounted" at the forward port-ion of the top member 1 of the frame and this plane is made up of two sections, one located at each side of the top member 1 of the frame. The sect-ionsof'the plane 42 are parallel with the plane 41, but the scctions of the' plane 42 #are hinged at their A plane 42 is' f 1 ,cedono shown in the present instance consists ot' bars 43 slidably mounted for vertical move-V ment at the sides oit the member 1 and the sides of the bars 8. Rods 44 are ivotally connected at their upper ends to tie lower ends of the bars 43 and the rods 44 carry at their lower ends gear teeth 45 which mesh with the gear Wheels 4G journaled upon a shaft 47 carried at the forward portion of the trame of the machine. Wheels 48 are fixed to the gear wheels 46 and carry at their peripheries gear teeth 49. Pawls 50 are carried at the lower forward portion of the frame of the machine and provided with teeth 51 which are adapted to engage the teeth 49 upon the wheels 48 and hold the wheels at the positions to which they are turned. The rear ends of the pawls may be pressed down by the .toot of an 'operator so as todisengagc the teeth of the pawls from the teeth of the wheels so that the said wheels are free to rotate. Therefore it will be seen that by rotating the wheels 46 the rods 44 will be moved longitudinally and the bars 43 will be raised and lowered. Thus the rear edge-portions of the sections' constituting theplane 42 may be raised or lowered.

When it is desired that the machine shall soar in an upward direction or move ap proximately in a horizontal line, or a line parallel thereto, the rear edge portions of the sections constituting the plane ,42 are moved belowthe forward edge portions of thesaid plane. W'hen, however, it is desired `that the machine should gravtate gradually the rear edge portions of the soctions constituting the plane 42 are moved to positions'above the 'forward edge portions of the said sections. Each rod 44 is prol vided at its lower portion with a pointer 52 which operates over or adjacent a fixed scale 53. lThevscale and pointer are so positioned that they are in View of lthe operator oit' the machine and consequently the operator may observe the position of the pointer over the scale and ascertain to what extent the rear edge portions the plane 42 are depressedwith relation to the forward edge portions thereof.

As hereinbefore stated, it is the design to provide in conjunction with a rrnn'xhinein-4 ofthe sections constituting' tended to he used 'for flight. through the air, means for rendering the same ente when de scanding. This means will now be described.- It consists of wings the parts of which are foldablc or lcollapsible so that under ordinary conditions they occupy but small space, but when in operation are spread in the spaces between the forward and rear planes ot the machine. These wings are vlocated at the opposite sides of the 'frame and as they are both alike, a de; scription of one will answer.' Each wing consists of ribs 54 which are Lshaped in edge elevation. These ribs are hingedly connected at their upper shorter ends to the bar S as at 55. The upper shorter portions of the ribs 54 are adapted to bear against the sides of the top member 1 when the longer portions ot' the said ribs are swung to horizontal positions. The ribs 54 are hollow and each rib provided with a longitudinal slot- 56. Pulleys 57 are journaledv to the sides ot' the top member l adjacent the terminalA ribs 54 of each series and cables 58' are trained over these pulleys. The outer end portions ot' the cables 58 pass down through the Ihollow interiors of the ribs 54 and are connected at their lower ends with the corner portions ot' linen curtains 59. The outer or lower portions ol these ourtains are arranged to wind upon a shaft G0 which is joulnuled in heads 61 carried at the lower or outer ends of the ribs 54. Drums (i2 are journalcd upon the shaft 47 or any other suitable support and are provided with hand wheels 63 by means 'of which they may be rotated. The inner end portions of the cables 58 are arranged to wind upon the drums G2. The cables 58 are carried along the edges of: the curtains 59 and the edge portions of the curtains are folded around the cables and sewed so that the thickness of the material is such that the edge portions of the curtains cannot pass transversely' through the slots 56 provided in the sides of the ribs`54, but the edge portions of the curtains are free to be moved along thev said slots. length suilieient to have its'forward and rear edge portions lying under the rear ledge portion of the forward plane 42 and the for ward edge portion' ot the rear plane ,41. Therefore in case of accifjient or when itis desired to permit the 'machine to gravitate gradually to the earth the cables 58- aro wound upon the drums 62, whereby the curtains 59 are unwound from the shaft G0 and are extended along the lower longer portions ot the ribs 54. When the said curtains have been drawn tight and when the pull upon the cables 58 is continued the longer portions of the ribs 54 will be swung' from approximately vertical positions to horizontal positions andthus the curtains will bridge the-space between the forward i)ach wing is of a upon the top member 1 on: the line of lthe median long dimension thereof. A shaft 65 is journaled at the upper ends of the standards 64 and its end portions project beyond the forward and rear sides of the said standards. The shaft 65 is lmade of material which may .flex or bend slightly. .Consequently bearings at the `upper ends of the 4 standards 64 are sufficiently large'to permit the intermediate portion of the shaft 65/ to bow or bend in an upward direction. Springs 66w are provided in the shaft 65 and are under tension with a tendency to rotate the saidshaft in one direction. However, the said shaft may be rotated in the opposite direction when the curtains which will be explained hereinafter and which are attached thereto are spread. Arms 67 are carried by the standards 64 and eyes 68 are pivotally attached to the upper ends of the arms 67 and receive gudgeons 69 which are I c attached to .the ends of the shaft 65. -Vhen the intermediate portion of the shaft 65 is bowed ,in an upward direction, the eyes 68 i .will swing slightly so that the shaft may "thereon in opposite directions.

rotate notwithstanding the fact that it is bent from a straight into a curved line. 4The inner ends of ,the curtains 70 are connected tov the shaft 65 and are'arranged to swing Sleeves 71 are slidably mounted upon the standards 64 and the inner ends lof rods 7 2 are pivoted to the sleeves. inner ends to the standards 64 and at their outer ends to the rod'74 at points` between the ends thereof. The upper or outer -ends of the rods 72 are connected with the outer edge portions ofthe curtains 70 and the said rods 72 are provided at their upper or outer ends with bars 74 which extend along the outer edges of the curtains and prevent the curtains'from folding. Thin'plates of metal or otherfrigid material are attached to the bars 74 and form 'sontinuations of the edge portions of the curtains when the same are extended. Vhen the curtains are wound' upon the shaft the said plates 75 are approximately horizontal and extend along the opposite sides of 'the shaft 65. A cable 76 passesl through eyes 78 provided at the outer or upper ends of the rods 72. The cable thence extends along therods 72 and passes through eyes 79 provided at the inner end Links '73 are pivoted at their neaaeoo portions of the said,rods. From the eyes 79 the curtains 70 1n opposite directions and the said curtains will unwind from thev shaft 65 against the-tension of the springs 66. Thus the curtains of the supplemental parachute are spread.- This operation is ,res/orted to when it is desired to permit Vthe machine to gravitategradually. .As soon as 'the pullin strain is released from the ends ofthe cable 76 the tension of the springs 66 will come into play and the curtains are rewound upon geo the shaft 65 and the yrods 72 will beswung v.

to vertical or closed positions against the sides of the standards 6 4.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A flying machine. comprising a frame, a fixed sustaining plane carried atV therear portion of the frame, vafmovable sustaining plane carried at the forward portionA 0f the frame, and foldable wings carried `by the frame and located between the forward and rear planes. y

2. A ying machine'v comprising a framel a fined sustaining plane carried at the rear portion of the frame, a pivoted sustaining plane carried at the forward portion of the frame.y means for swinging the last\men tioned plane vertically, wings hingedly mounted .at the sides (if the frame, rolled curtains carried bypthevwings, means for extending the wings between the forward and rearplanes, and means for unrolling the curtains to stretch the same between the ribs of the wingsl `v 3. A flying machine compr'ising a frame, a sustaining plane fixed, at the rear portion thereof, al sustaining plane pivoted at the forward portion thereof for vertical swinging movement, means for swinging the foremost plane and for holding the same at a desired angle, wings hingedly mounted at the sides ofthe frame and consisting of ribs spaced from` eachother, curtains rolled between the ribs, means for swinging the ribs to approximately horizontal positions, and means for unrolling .the curtains to stretch the same between the ribs of the wings and between the forward and rear planes.

4. A flying machine comprising a frame, a fixed plane ca'rried at the rear end thereof, a pivoted sustaining plane carriedv atjthe forward end thereof, means for' swinging the last mentioned plane vertically, wings hingedly attached to tihe sidesof the frame between the inner edges of the planes, means for extending said wings in horizontal ositions between the planes, and a fol able parachute carried by the frame and 'located the outer portions, of the curtains and slid- 25 between the inner edges ofthe wings and ably engaging the support of the parachute,

between the adjacent edges of the planes. and means for swinging the free ends of the 5. flying machine comprising a frame, said rods away from the shaft against the `5 affixed sustainingplane located at the rear tension of the springs. r

v-endthereof, a pivoted sustaining plane 10- 7. A flying machine comprising a frame, 30 cated `at the forward end thereof, means for sustaining planes carried by the frame, swinging the last mentioned plane vertiwingshingedly mounted at the sides of the cally,z foldable wings hingedly/ mounted at frame between the sustaining planes and 10 the sides of the frame, means Vfor extending consisting of hollow ribs, a shaft carried by the said Wings in the space between the adeach set of ribs at the freelends thereof, cur- 35 jacent edges of the planes, a foldable paratains arranged to roll upon the shafts and ycliutecarried at the top of the frame be` having edge portions which are confined y tween the inner 'edges ofthe Wings and bewithin the ribs but which are free to slide 15 'tween the adjacent edges of the planes, and along the same, means for swinging the free means for extending said parachute over the end portions of the ribs from approximately 40 fra-me. f vertical to horizontal positions, and means 6. In combination with a flying machine for drawing the curtains alon the ribs. l comprising a framev carrying sustaining In testimony whereof 1 a my signa- 20 lanes, a parachute located over the ntermeture in presence of two witnesses.

iate portion ofthe frame and consisting of VALENTINE WOJCIECHOWSKI. [in a] a flexible shaft, return springs operatively Witnesses: connected 'with thefshaft, curtains arranged Gao. D. SoULE,

'to wind upoan'the shaft, rods connected with HARRISON D. Souris. 

